Hello, my name is Rick Bartlett and I am President of Yokun Seat Inc. d.b.a. Bartlett's Orchard Farm Market. Every year since 1985, we have had workers from Jamaica come to our farm to harvest produce, especially apples. As of this fall, Derrick Senior has come every year since 1985, Gideon Forrest has come every year since 1988, Cecil Reid has come every year since 2017, and Kavari Forrest, Gideon's son, worked his first year. This year, the four men went back home when Melissa was only a tropical wave. As we all know now, Melissa grew into one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

Gideon and Kavari live in Black River, on the southern coast where the eye came ashore. Their home was very heavily damaged, including most of the roof being torn off. The family has moved into a small room where the roof remained intact. Derrick lives near Alligator Pond, also on the southern coast but farther away from the eye. Cecil lives in St. Mary Parish in a mountainous area. We have not heard from him, but communication in that area is not the greatest in the best of times. We are working on trying to communicate with him.

We have started this fund to raise funds to help them repair their house to make sure they have safe shelters for their families. My wife Joan and I have opened a dedicated savings account and we will distribute money to the men directly, through Western Union. Derrick, Gideon, and Kavari have close family members living in the US, whom we have met several times. If we can coordinate with them if they travel to Jamaica to help with their families' recovery, we will send money with them.